A looming TikTok ban has related Chinese language and Americans like by no means earlier than, as they swap jokes and memes in what one consumer described as a “historic second”.
It is all unfolding on a well-liked Chinese language social media app referred to as RedNote, or Xiaohongshu (actually interprets as Little Purple E-book), which does not have the same old web firewall that separates China from the remainder of the world.
It has been drawing self-professed US “TikTok refugees” searching for a brand new residence on the web – even if their very own authorities is searching for a TikTok ban due to nationwide safety issues.
People now discover themselves in direct contact with 300 million Mandarin audio system in China and elsewhere – whereas in the true world, Beijing is bracing for a tumultuous Trump presidency that might pressure its fragile ties with Washington.
‘We’re right here to spite our authorities’
On the coronary heart of the US ban is the concern that China is utilizing TikTok to spy on People.
The app has confronted accusations that consumer information is ending up within the fingers of the Chinese language authorities – due to a Beijing legislation that requires native firms to “help, help and cooperate with the state intelligence work”. TikTok denies this has ever occurred, or that it will occur.
However the chance does not appear to fret some US customers – 700,000 new customers have signed on to RedNote within the final two days, making it probably the most downloaded free app within the US App retailer.
“The explanation that our authorities is telling us that they’re banning TikTok is as a result of they’re insisting that it is owned by you guys, the Chinese language folks, authorities, no matter,” mentioned one new RedNote consumer, Definitelynotchippy.
She goes on to clarify why she is on RedNote: “Lots of us are smarter than that although so we determined to piss off our authorities and obtain an precise Chinese language app. We name that trolling, so briefly we’re right here to spite our authorities and to find out about China and hang around with you guys.”
TikTok, though owned by Chinese language firm ByteDance, is headquartered in Singapore and says it’s run independently. In truth, China’s model of TikTok is one other app referred to as Douyin. RedNote, however, is a Chinese language firm based mostly in Shanghai and among the many few social media apps obtainable each in China and out of doors.
So Washington’s fears over TikTok would lengthen to RedNote as nicely.
That is why American customers on RedNote are referring to themselves as “Chinese language spies” – persevering with a TikTok development the place folks have been bidding farewell to their “private Chinese language spy” who has allegedly been surveilling them over time.
RedNote is now filled with posts the place ex-TikTok customers are searching for a substitute. One put up says: “I am on the lookout for my Chinese language spy. I miss you. Please assist me discover him.”
And Chinese language customers have answered: “I am right here!”
‘Folks-to-people exchanges’
The sincere, humorous conversations on RedNote will not be what Chinese language President Xi Jinping had in thoughts when he spoke about “strengthening people-to-people cultural exchanges” between China and the US.
However that’s actually what is going on as excited Chinese language customers welcome curious People to the app.
“You do not even have to journey overseas, you may simply discuss to foreigners right here,” mentioned one Chinese language RedNote consumer in a video that has acquired greater than 6,000 likes.
“But it surely’s truthfully insane, no-one would have anticipated that we might meet like this someday, brazenly talk like this.”
Meals, streaming reveals and jobs have been the preferred subjects: “Is life in America just like the way it appears to be like on [the US TV show] Mates?”
Different Chinese language customers demanded a “tax” for utilizing the platform – cat images.
“Cat tax from California,” reads one put up in response. “Here is my providing – the shorthair is a boy named Bob and the calico is a woman named Marley.”
Nonetheless others are utilizing the platform to ask People for assist with their English homework.
One put up reads: “Pricey TikTok refugees, might you please inform me the reply to query 53? Is the reply T (true) or F (false)?”
Assist got here rapidly: some 500 folks have since answered.
The flood of latest American customers seems to have caught RedNote off guard – experiences say the corporate is hiring English moderators.
And others try to money in on RedNote’s new-found US stardom as nicely: language-learning app Duolingo put out a graph exhibiting a 216% bounce in its consumer base, in comparison with this time final 12 months.
Is RedNote the brand new TikTok?
RedNote’s rising reputation isn’t assured to final although.
There isn’t any purpose to imagine it will not face blowback for a similar causes as TikTok: issues that it might be utilized by China to spy on People.
It is unclear how lengthy Beijing can be open to such unfettered exchanges – management of the web is vital to its repressive regime.
The irony of the state of affairs was flagged by one Chinese language consumer, who posted: “Do not we have now a (fireplace)wall? How come so many foreigners can enter, when clearly I can not go away?”
Sometimes, Chinese language web customers have been unable to instantly work together with foreigners. International platforms like Twitter and Instagram and serps like Google are blocked in China, although folks use VPNs to avoid these restrictions. Delicate subjects – from historical past to dissent – or something seen as essential of China’s authorities and ruling Communist get together is swiftly censored.
It is unclear how a lot RedNote is censored – it is largely utilized by youthful and middle-aged girls in China, the place they share photos and movies. It isn’t like Weibo, one other Chinese language app, the place discussions and airing of grievances is much extra widespread, resulting in posts usually being taken down.
However a handful of latest RedNote customers say they’ve already acquired experiences that their posts have violated pointers, together with one who requested in a put up if the app was “LGBT pleasant”.
One other mentioned that they had requested “What [sic] Chinese language take into consideration homosexual folks?” and acquired an identical notification, that that they had violated “public ethical order” pointers.
And Chinese language customers hold reminding People on the app “to not point out delicate subjects, similar to politics, faith and medicines”.
One Chinese language consumer additionally suggested them to stay to the “One China coverage”, the diplomatic pillar of the US-China relationship – in line with which the US recognises and has formal ties with China slightly than Taiwan, the self-governed island Beijing claims as its personal.
The US authorities has not commented on RedNote thus far, and neither has Beijing.
However Chinese language state media appears upbeat about it, with International Instances even interviewing a US consumer who mentioned she would “like to work together with Chinese language customers”.
RedNote’s American destiny is anybody’s guess – however for now, at the very least on-line, the US-China rivalry is taking a break. Due to cat photos.
